ukactive responds to Game On report following inquiry by CMS Committee

ukactive has issued the following statement in response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report which concludes its Game On inquiry into the state of physical activity provision in schools and communities

Clemency Lion, Director of Research, Policy and Communications at ukactive, said: “Today’s Game On inquiry report underscores the importance of physical activity for people at all stages of life. Investing in community sport and physical activity achieves significant social and economic returns, from increased productivity to mental and physical wellbeing improvements.

“In our written submission and during our oral evidence last June, we highlighted the need for Government to support health and fitness facilities properly to maximise the benefits of physical activity in reducing pressure on the NHS and supporting economic growth.

“We are pleased to see the Committee recognise many of ukactive’s arguments and adopt our recommendation to use existing Government funding strategically to unlock greater private investment streams. This will be crucial in protecting and enhancing the provision of physical activity for children to ensure their wellbeing now and into the future.

“There remains a clear need for a broader and deeper understanding of the importance of physical activity in delivering the Government’s missions across educational, workplace and healthcare settings.

“The report’s recommendation for a comprehensive cross-Government strategy represents a vital step and we will continue to work with the Government to ensure the role of our sector is recognised fully.”

Evidence and recommendations

ukactive provided a written submission and delivered oral evidence to support the Committee and make the case for far greater focus and investment in physical activity across Government.

We welcome all the recommendations, particularly for the Government to:

• Play a more proactive role in convening and enabling alternative sources of investment in grassroots sport and physical activity.
• Place a statutory duty on local authorities to provide sporting and leisure facilities in their communities and the Government to provide councils with extra capital funding to enable them to meet this duty.
• Set out the measures it intends to take to relieve the adverse effects on facilities from its recent business rate changes.
• Retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee and ensure any future planning reforms include a robust and enforceable mechanism to protect playing fields and facilities.
• Reinstate support for opening school sports facilities to communities through a long-term, place-based funding model.
• Provide clearer national guidance and sustained funding to health, sport and local partners so that proven models can expand and more people, especially those with long‑term conditions, poor mental health or at risk of inactivity, can benefit.

The final recommendation, for a cross-government ‘Movement for Health’ strategy – supported by a clearly defined working group – is critical. As we told the Committee, the Government must foster a deeper recognition of the immense potential of physical activity across Whitehall, ensuring it is connected explicitly to the delivery of key cross-government missions such as health, economic growth, and barriers to opportunity.

To read the Committee’s report in full click here.